CHICAGO – I find it fascinating that “Fringe,” the show that always seemed to be on the bubble for renewal and was always included in articles about low-rated programming, appears to be one of the most influential on the Fall 2013 season. FOX has two new dramas in the Fall and they’re both from “Fringe” alum — J.J. Abrams’ “Almost Human” and Robert Orci & Alex Kurtzman’s “Sleepy Hollow”. They’re clearly looking for, believe it or not, the next “Fringe.” For while the smart sci-fi drama never found a huge audience on TV, it found an incredibly loyal one on Blu-ray, On Demand, iTunes, etc. and those fans can now complete their collection with a bittersweet but complete fifth and final season release.

CHICAGO – Warner Bros. transfers for their current television shows are the best in the Blu-ray market. Take for example the fourth season of “Fringe,” a visually striking show that’s even more so on Blu-ray than on its original broadcast. With 1080p and 5.1 audio tracks, the show looks more like film than television. And the wealth of bonus material on what will be the penultimate season of this cult hit is impressive.

CHICAGO – Writer/director Alex Kurtzman has been an incredibly powerful creative voice in the world of sci-fi from TV’s “Fringe” to film’s “Star Trek” & “Transformers” but his new work comes from someplace much more personal. Starring Chris Pine, “People Like Us” was born from Kurtzman’s own desire to find the half-siblings that his father had left behind years earlier.

CHICAGO – When so much of your already-limited primetime schedule is devoted to reality singing competitions and animated programming, it gives a network little room to play. FOX only has a few timeslots once one takes “The X Factor”/”American Idol” and “Animation Domination” out of the equation. But play they will.

CHICAGO – FOX just announced that they have renewed the low-rated but fan-loved “Fringe” for a fifth and final season to air in the 2012-13 season. That’s the good news. The bad news is that there will be only 13 episodes left in your favorite show, although writers will surely make them count, knowing that they can wrap up all of their plotlines with a series-ending arc.

CHICAGO – Brian Tallerico appears for a full hour on Bill Moller’s program to take listener calls and discuss television programs and new films including Game Change, Blue Bloods, Jesse Stone, Missing, Terra Nova, Fringe, Alcatraz, Drive, John Carter, A Thousand Words, Silent House, Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, and more!

CHICAGO – FOX continues to struggle to produce a new dramatic hit, announcing this week that the highly-promoted “Terra Nova” would not return for another season of dinosaur action. The cancellation combined with Monday night’s truly dismal ratings for “Alcatraz” has given some hope to “Fringe” fans. They can’t cancel everything, can they?

CHICAGO – There’s “potential” all over FOX’s highly-anticipated “Alcatraz,” debuting tonight, January 16th, 2012 with two back-to-back episodes. A great cast, strong production pedigree, interesting concept — so why are both of the first two episodes so forgettable? Why is this show more “meh” than amazing?

CHICAGO – FOX has confirmed what everyone expected; the animated series “Allen Gregory” starring the voice of Jonah Hill is officially cancelled. The news came today at the FOX Television Critics Association meeting and press tour event in Pasadena.

CHICAGO – There are very few programs as ambitious or refined as “Fringe.” Low ratings have proven that it’s not a show for everyone and I’ll admit to dipping in and out of it myself over the first two seasons, but I was struck by the confidence on display in season three, recently released on Blu-ray and DVD. In many ways, this program is redefining what it takes to stay on network television with low ratings but impressive numbers in other arenas. Check it out and see why.

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CHICAGO – Orange Day is Friday (July 27, 2018)… as in “Orange is the New Black.” That’s when Season Six will be available for download from Netflix, as the online series continues to showcase the women inmates at Litchfield Penitentiary, three of whom are played by Taylor Schilling (Piper), Kate Mulgrew (Red) and Dascha Polanco (Daya).

CHICAGO – When is the last time a stage play, based in an intimate setting, made you think about your life, death, and the destiny inherent in both? “Everybody,” staged by Brown Paper Box Co. (BPBCo), is such a play, and the energetic aura and sense of surprise that the show contains is soul soothing wonder. The show has various evening/matinee performances at the Pride Arts Center in Chicago run through August 12, 2018. Click here for more details, including ticket information.